Can You Get Comprehensive Insurance For Young Drivers?
Caeva O'Callaghan | March 14th, 2023
As a young driver, you’ll need to learn all about what you can and can’t do on the road. But are you able to get comprehensive car insurance?
Yes, you can. Just like any other driver, comprehensive insurance is available for young drivers in Ireland.
Comprehensive car insurance is self-explanatory: it’s the highest form of cover you can get, which will protect you against nearly every risk.
In this article, we’ll cover the following questions:
- What is comprehensive car insurance?
- What insurance do I need as a young driver?
- How do I get comprehensive car insurance?
While comprehensive car insurance may cost a little more, it’s the maximum cover you can get as a driver and is worth the money if you’re worried about risks on the road.
What is comprehensive car insurance?
Comprehensive car insurance is a form of cover which protects you against nearly every risk you’re likely to run into on the road.
If you damage your car, someone else’s car or injure someone in an accident, regardless of who is at fault, comprehensive car insurance will cover you for the costs. Comprehensive car insurance also covers you against fire and theft of your vehicle.
Third Party Only is the minimum cover you need to drive on the road legally in Ireland. This kind of cover is the liability cover to third parties and property owned by third parties. If you have an accident while driving, and you injure someone or damage someone’s property, the injury or damage is covered by your insurance company. You are also covered for any dispute that may arise over liability or any dispute regarding who is at fault.
Third party, fire and theft cover adds fire and theft protection to your minimum third party liability cover. It will protect you if your vehicle is damaged in a fire, or is stolen.
Comprehensive car insurance covers third party liability, fire and theft, and also covers accidental damage to your vehicle and to your windscreen. Comprehensive insurance may even protect your no claims bonus, depending on your provider.
What insurance do I need as a young driver?
Anyone driving on the road, accompanied or unaccompanied, needs third party liability cover as an absolute minimum. Driving a car without it is illegal, and can lead to hefty fines and worse.
While you’re learning to drive, you can ask your parents or guardian to add you as a named driver on their policy. This is a great idea because it will help you when it’s time to get your own full policy. You’ll have a better chance of getting a reasonable car insurance quote, because the insurer will be able to see you have a period of sensible driving under your belt.
As a named driver, the insurance premium is likely to increase, meaning your parents will pay more per month. Still, it’s likely to be less expensive than getting your own policy.
Once you pass your test and get a full licence, you’ll need full insurance. You can still be a named driver on your parents’ policy, but this kind of cover is really for emergencies only. If you’ll be regularly using the car, or using it without your parents’ permission every time you go out, you need your own insurance. Call us today and we’ll be able to help you find the right cover.
How do I get comprehensive car insurance?
Finding the right car insurance policy can be a bit of a minefield. Our job is to help you choose which policy is best for you. So give us a call, and we’ll be able to find the right policy at the right price.
You might decide – depending on your vehicle and how often you drive – that you might not need to pay for comprehensive cover. In that case, we can advise on the best third party only or third party, fire and theft cover for your situation.
We’ll ask you a few questions first, such as how long you’ve been driving, where you store your car, and its make and model. These are all part of the quotation process, and will help us narrow down your options.
If you’re a young driver who’s considering comprehensive car insurance, call us today and we’ll be happy to help. We are available on on 0818 224433 or 042 935905 Mon-Fri between from 8.30am and 5.30pm.